Enhancing sustainable health information and laboratory systems and networks for quality detection, management, and monitoring to end HIV and TB as public health threats in India | CDC RFA JG 26 0143

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is a CDC cooperative agreement focused on strengthening India's health information systems and laboratory networks to improve early detection, effective management, and higher-quality monitoring of HIV and TB.

2) Who is the sponsoring agency?

The sponsoring agency is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), specifically CDC-GHC.

3) What are the identifiers for this opportunity?

Funding Opportunity Number (FON): CDC RFA JG 26 0143. CFDA: 93.067.

4) What is the overall goal of the cooperative agreement?

The overall goal is to help end HIV and TB as public health threats in India by improving the systems that generate and use data, expanding reliable diagnostic capacity, and building sustainable, quality-assured laboratory services that can also support other infectious disease priorities.

5) What diseases and conditions are emphasized?

The primary focus is HIV and TB, including co-infections. The opportunity also emphasizes building laboratory and surveillance capacity that can pivot to other infectious disease threats when needed.

6) Where will the work take place?

The work is designed to strengthen systems in India, with an emphasis on priority regions where improved early detection and service delivery can have the biggest impact.

7) Which national partners is the work intended to support?

The work is designed to support India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), and affiliated institutions.

8) How does this opportunity relate to broader U.S. priorities?

The notice states that the work aligns with the America First Global Health Strategy by emphasizing resilient health systems that reduce the risk of cross-border spread of infectious diseases.

9) What kinds of improvements are being sought in laboratory systems?

The opportunity emphasizes making laboratory networks more innovative, cost-effective, and dependable; expanding reliable diagnostic capacity; strengthening molecular diagnostics; reinforcing biosafety and biosecurity; and improving laboratory quality systems to ensure standardized procedures and quality assurance.

10) What kinds of improvements are being sought in health information systems?

The opportunity emphasizes optimizing health information systems to expand access to testing and improve early case detection, as well as integrating national data systems so information can be shared and acted on in a coordinated way for faster and more consistent public health decision-making.

11) What does “integration” or “country ownership” mean in this notice?

The notice highlights country ownership and integration, meaning improvements should be embedded into national and subnational systems rather than operating as stand-alone project components, and should fit within India's existing program architecture.

12) What program activities are specifically emphasized?

Emphasized activities include: optimizing health information and laboratory networks for HIV, TB, and co-infections; improving surveillance through integration of national data systems; reinforcing biosafety, biosecurity, and laboratory quality systems; adopting innovative technologies to accelerate disease containment; strengthening molecular diagnostics and applied epidemiology; and developing workforce capacity for data collection, analysis, interpretation, and use.

13) How does the opportunity address surveillance and outbreak readiness?

It emphasizes integrating national data systems to strengthen surveillance and enable coordinated information sharing and action, and it also stresses laboratories and surveillance platforms that can pivot to other infectious disease threats when needed.

14) Why are biosafety, biosecurity, and laboratory quality systems highlighted?

The notice recognizes that safe operations, standardized procedures, and quality assurance are essential for trustworthy test results and continuity of laboratory services.

15) What is meant by “innovative technologies” in this context?

The notice encourages adopting innovative technologies that accelerate disease containment goals, particularly those that improve the reliability, speed, and usefulness of laboratory diagnostics and data systems.

16) What is the role of molecular diagnostics and applied epidemiology in this award?

The opportunity highlights strengthening molecular diagnostics and applied epidemiology to better understand transmission networks and detect drug resistance patterns, especially for HIV and co-infections.

17) What workforce development activities are expected?

Workforce development is a major component, with an emphasis on strengthening staff capacity to collect, analyze, interpret, and use data to improve patient care, strengthen feedback loops between facilities and programs, and monitor epidemic trends over time.

18) Is the intent limited to improving HIV and TB program performance?

No. While improving HIV and TB program performance is a central intent, the notice also aims to strengthen broader public health readiness by ensuring laboratory and surveillance platforms can support other infectious disease priorities.

19) What is the approximate funding amount available for Year 1?

CDC indicates an approximate total funding amount of $6,000,000 for Year 1, contingent on available funds.

20) How many awards does CDC expect to make?

CDC expects to make 2 awards.

21) Is there a stated maximum (ceiling) award amount?

The listing notes an Award Ceiling for Year 1 of 0 (none), which typically indicates that no formal maximum cap is stated in the posting even though a total available funding amount is specified.

22) When is the application closing date?

The application window reflects an original closing date of 2026-07-24.

23) Who is eligible to apply?

The opportunity is open to a wide range of eligible applicants, including various levels of government; public and private universities; nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; tribal governments and organizations; and other unrestricted applicants.

24) Are small businesses eligible?

Yes. Small businesses are listed among eligible applicants.

25) Are for-profit entities eligible?

Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed separately as eligible.

26) Are nonprofit organizations eligible even if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?

Yes. Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status are included in the eligibility list.

27) Are universities eligible?

Yes. Both public and private universities are included as eligible applicants.

28) Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Tribal governments and organizations are included in the eligibility list.

29) What is the expected emphasis on priority regions?

The notice emphasizes improving laboratory and information systems especially in priority regions where gains in early detection and service delivery can have the biggest impact.

30) What is the practical outcome CDC is looking for from improved data systems?

The notice emphasizes coordinated information sharing and action, faster and more consistent public health decision-making, and better feedback loops between facilities and programs to improve patient care and track epidemic trends.